Preparing for a Performance Review
Do you remember when you were a kid how you felt when report card time came around? If it was good you could possibly look forward to praise from your parents and possibly a little treat. A bad one however probably meant more than a little trouble so there were butterflies in your stomach as you handed that envelope over to Mom and Dad.
A performance review at work can bring all of those memories and feelings flooding back. A good review could set your career on fire, a bad one who knows? So it’s just like being back in high school all over again.
In the case of performance reviews though there are certain things you can do to make sure that you are prepared for your workplace review and you are ready to handle whatever comes of it.
Self-evaluation is a good tool. Critique your recent job performance as honestly as you can. Are you really putting in 100% or have you been slacking off recently? If you are honest with yourself about the way you have been working then you will probably be better equipped to handle any criticism your boss might throw your way during the review.
10 Resume Mistakes
There are several schools of thought on the best way to write a resume that is right for today’s business climate but there are some things that the vast majority of hiring managers from all industries agree should not be on a good resume. The top ten?
- Spelling and grammar errors – Do not be careless enough to send out a resume with spelling errors and grammar faux pas. Attention to detail is essential!
- Canned opening objectives – Using a generic objective will most likely be ignored – the hiring manager has seen it already.
- Listing personal attributes – Some people still insist on including things like their height, weight and other personal information. Unless you are a model or an actress such things should never, ever be on your resume.
- Interests and hobbies – Unless they pertain to the job you are being interviewed for leave these off.
- The minute details of every job you ever had – Hiring managers are looking for a brief synopsis of your experience not a blow by blow account of your days as a cashier.
- Too much bragging – Listing your accomplishments is important but if the wording goes over the top and starts to sound like you are bragging it can be a huge turn-off.
- Outdated information – If it has been more than 15 years since you left a job you should might wan to leave it off your resume. Assuming it is not very relevant to the position you are seeking now.
- False information – Stating you have a BS when it is really an Associate’s degree may seem like just a little white lie but making false statements on your resume can blow up in your face. Most employers these days do background checks and if you are exposed as a liar you can instantly kiss the job goodbye, even if you have already received an offer letter.
- Unexplained gaps in work history – Many people have these but they are something that most hiring managers notice right away. Choose your words carefully in explaining them on paper though. The hiring manager does not need to know specifics right now. If you state “left for personal reasons” they can then ask for more detail later if they need to.
- Lack of professionalism – Brightly colored or patterned paper, cutesy fonts and silly childish email addresses all turn hiring managers off right away. The chances of it getting read all the way through are slim.
Tax Time Tips for Job Hunters
Job hunting can be a strenuous and sometimes downright depressing but, it does have its advantages when it comes to tax season. Knowing what you can (and cannot) deduct when it comes to filing is important. Here are a few pointers:
Travel Expenses – Traveling to interviews can take a real bite out of your budget but, much of it can be claimed back on your taxes. There are some rather confusing IRS rules you have to keep in mind though. If the sole purpose of your trip is to obtain new employment then everything – flight, meals, hotel rooms – can be deducted. However, if you went to Hawaii on vacation and decided it was so wonderful you cannot imagine leaving and then decide to look for a job, none of the expenses are deductible. Reason being the original purpose of your trip was pleasurable in nature. However, you can still deduct the cost of actually getting to the interviews (bus, rental car, etc.)
New Year’s Resolutions For Job Hunters
It’s that time of year again; time to make New Year’s Resolutions. For those in the job market there might be more important things to add to the list than “I will give up chocolate”. A new year is a fresh beginning for everyone, and a great time for job seekers to re evaluate their game plan. Here are some resolutions that can really help.
- I will ask my friends and relatives to give me an honest critique of my resume and cover letter, and listen to their feedback, even if it stings.
- I will ask those same people to “mock interview” me, and ask them to be as critical as they can.
- When I find an attractive job opportunity I will apply immediately, no more procrastination.
- I will do more research about the industries I want to work in, and the companies that appeal to me.
- I will spend more time networking, both online and off.
- I will be brave enough to make that follow up call after I have interviewed for a position.
- I will open my mind to avenues beyond the obvious in an attempt to find the best and most interesting opportunities.
- I will really examine my finances and see if I can consider a lower paying position that could be a stepping stone to something bigger.
Holiday Job Hunting
Many jobseekers believe that the period of time between Thanksgiving and New Year is a dead zone, that hiring ceases during the holiday season and they should put their job search on the back burner until mid January. This is however a myth; the holidays can provide the jobseeker with a number of season specific opportunities, here are a few:
Employers Checking Your Facebook Page? Survey says Yes
By now most job seekers have heard the advice that they should be cautious about what their personal Facebook, Myspace, Twitter or other social networking pages contain as inappropriate content may kill a candidates chances of obtaining their dream job should a potential employer decide to include browsing the Internet for a candidates online history.
Many jobseekers shrug off this wisdom believing it to be media hype rather than reality. Why would a hiring manager waste their time on MySpace? However according to a recent CareerBuilder survey more of them are indeed including social media site activity as a part of their pre-employment background checks.
Job Board Scams – What You Need to Know
As more people join the ranks of those actively seeking employment, activity on online job boards increases. These can be great places to land a job (although competition is fierce) but, increasingly the scam artists are targeting them too.
Work from home scams, investment scams and the like are nothing new. However now they are showing up alongside legitimate job offers on sites like Monster and Yahoo and it can be hard to spot them at first.
Some job seekers assume that these big job boards vet all the employment offerings that are posted on their site but that is simply not the case, so it is up to the individual to figure out which ones are not legitimate.
Background checks – What Job Seekers Need to Know
Does the idea of consenting to a background check make you a little nervous and feel your privacy is being invaded?
The fact is the majority of employers today, regardless of industry, conduct background checks on potential employees before signing off on a new hire. How deep an employer digs will vary though. Most background checks will investigate criminal and court records looking for past legal wrong doings on the part of a potential hire. Increasingly companies are also running credit checks, as some feel that fiscal responsibility is a good indicator of a responsible person.
The Importance of An “Old Fashioned” Cover Letter
In the 21st century a large portion of employment applications are submitted online. Although there is almost always a section to attach a cover letter, many of today’s job hunters skip right over the opportunity. They want to get right to the resume submission, saving time so they can move onto the next application.
Others may submit one but are guilty of the copy and paste method. Saved on their computer, it is very tempting to just copy and paste, using the same cover letter to each job applied. Although both methods certainly save time and energy,other person it is not likely to help you get the job.
Considering Fractional Employment as A Way to Get Ahead.
Consider this scenario: As an employer you know you need someone to oversee your human resources issues but, your staff is a too small for you to need a full-time person. These days more and more companies are finding themselves in this situation and are turning to a new breed of worker – the fractional employee.
